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Mailing GP reply letters after psychiatric assessment - a pilot randomised controlled trial
Rob Selzer1, Michael McGartland, Fiona M Foley
1Monash University School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria. r.selzer@alfred.org.au
Australian Family Physician
|February 9, 2011
Summary
Patients receiving a copy of the specialist
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Mental Health
- Health Communication
Background:
- Patients often lack awareness of their assessment and management plans.
- Specialist letters to general practitioners (GPs) are key communication tools.
- Sharing these letters with patients may improve understanding and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if patients receiving a copy of the GP reply letter experience improved outcomes.
- To assess the impact of direct patient communication in psychiatric referrals.
Main Methods:
- A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted.
- Compared outcomes for patients with depressive/anxiety disorders who received the GP reply letter versus a control group.
- Data collected on DASS-21 scores and adherence.
Main Results:
- A significant group-by-time interaction indicated greater improvement in DASS-21 scores for the letter recipient group.
- No significant difference in treatment adherence was observed between groups.
- The study included 21 letter recipients and 18 control participants.
Conclusions:
- Providing patients with a copy of the GP reply letter may enhance treatment outcomes for psychiatric conditions.
- This communication strategy warrants further investigation in mental health settings.
- Improved patient awareness of their care plan is a potential benefit.
